Peggy Noonan is always right on target! You have to read this article and see for yourself how she clearly identifies the reality of the lefts bias.
Here is just a bit of the article:
Because she jumbles up so many cultural categories, because she is a feminist not in the Yale Gender Studies sense but the How Do I Reload This Thang way, because she is a woman who in style, history, moxie and femininity is exactly like a normal American feminist and not an Abstract Theory feminist; because she wears makeup and heels and eats mooseburgers and is Alaska Tough, as Time magazine put it; because she is conservative, and pro-2nd Amendment and pro-life; and because conservatives can smell this sort of thing -- who is really one of them and who is not -- and will fight to the death for one of their beleaguered own; because of all of this she is a real and present danger to the American left, and to the Obama candidacy.
You might also enjoy Pat Buchanan's insight on the choice of Sarah Palin!
15 comments:
Not that Noonan really believes that Palin is a threat to Obama, as this clip shows (Noonan: "It's over.")
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0908/Noonan_Murphy_trash_Palin_on_hot_mic_Its_over.html
Anyway, as a Roman Catholic it's against my religion to vote for anyone stupid enough to be a creationist. Really: what would Aquinas say?
Right, so rush right out a support a candidate who will idly watch babies die in abortion. You don't need much of an excuse to justify your vote do you? Or to show your great intelligence?
Needless to say... I agree withyou Ryan!
And you don't need much of an excuse to assume that others are pro-abotion. I never said anything about voting for Obama. The Republicans have been playing pro-choice voters for years. McCain/Palin can and will do nothing to prevent any abortions (even overturning Roe v. Wade-- along shot, anyway-- will have little effect). But the things they can and will do (tax policy, defense policy)will almost certainly be anti-life in their effect. To be clear: I'm not saying vote for Obama, but I see no reason to vote for McCain/Palin either.
I meant that Republicans have been playing pro-life voters for years, by which I mean that they use them to gain power and then do little to promote life. In the end, neither of the political parties represents a consistent commitment to life.
Chris,
The Republicans have done nothing to prevent abortion bit is simply another canard to dissuade voters from supporting Republicans. If that were true why are organizations like pro-choice America so upset. Check out their website to see how they've complained the past several years about Republican policies. Look at how every piece of legislation the Republicans brought forward is immediately challenged in courts and until Roe v. Wade is overturned it will be difficult to make any significant changes. Further the Republicans while holding a slim majority have not had the necessary number of votes to defeat Democratic obstruction on the issue. Just look at how difficult it was to get the partial birth abortion legislation finally through.
Than you Castellanus. You make a very strong point when you refer to the hysteria of organizations like Pro-Choice America. But my main point is that I think it is a mistake to fray Cardinal Bernadin's "seamless garment." Take abortion out of the equation (I know we can't, but do it for the sake of argument): the Obama/Biden platform and governance philosophy is more consistent with Catholic social teaching than McCain/Palin. But, as we know, we can't take abortion out of the equation. But why should we take everything EXCEPT abortion out of the equation? Given the political facts on the ground (Dem congress, etc), from the perspective of the culture of life, McCain/Palin is likely to do more harm than good. On the national level, at this point in time , views on abortion will make little practical difference. Again, I'm not saying Obama/Biden is better, but I do not understand the embrace of McCain/Palin.
As for my admittedly snide comment about her being a creationist: my experience tells me that the anti-intellectualism of Christian fundamentalists poses a stumbling block for many non-Christians. The Church has a long history, of which we can all be proud, of defending the faith as reasonable: the light of reason and the light of faith have the same source. Creationism (like all forms of fundamentalism) promotes a conflict between faith and reason. As such, I think it prevents people from hearing the good news.
What? Catholics not creationists? Boing! Why, we even call our God the Creator. No one needs to believe that all that was created was created in the last several thousand years, but we must all most certainly believe that all was created--and by God. Better read St. Thomas Aquinas more closely, Cris: "Nothing from noting comes."
--William
Now, William, you cannot seriously believe that in disparaging creationism I was denying the reality of God the Creator. You write that "No one needs to believe that all that was created was created in the last several thousand years." This belief, and beliefs like it, are what I mean by "creationism." But I would go on and insist that no one SHOULD believe this, and to do so is to reject God's gift of reason. I am sorry if that was unclear.
Palin is a clear and present danger to anyone that values waiting until you're married to have sex and a baby. That's just what this country needs: another unmarried teenage mother. She's a disgrace to all that we stand for.
Chris,
I have written several things on why Catholics shouldn't vote Democrat even taking abortion off the table. I think it is wrong to equate Democratic policy with Catholic. The language is the same but the meaning is different. The idea of a minimum wage and a living wage are nice theory but it is not so simple as setting a mandatory/arbitrary wage and calling it good. The Catholic idea of a living wage is so a husband can support his family. So are we going to have separate wages for married men, married with children, single. This will certainly not go over big with the Democratic crowd that is constantly demanding equal pay for equal work. How about the fact that many of the people earning minimum wage are teenagers. Should we pay them the same amount as a husband with family? If we make it mandatory for full time employees then business just has to make them part-time.
As far as unions go it is my experience that the modern union is vastly different then the Catholic guilds of old. They are out for themselves first and their power before the individual workers and the good of the community.
Healthcare coverage for everyone is a nice idea but difficult to implement. The universal healthcare programs of other countries while ensuring coverage have serious drawbacks. Many people in this country lack healthcare insurance, that does not mean they are not getting health care. Healthcare and social work in this country are becoming more dissociated from the virtue of Christian charity and the duty of love of neighbor. Shifting care from people living the Gospel to people collecting a paycheck for a government agency is not the direction we need to go. I suggest listening to Archbishop Sheens talk called Social Problems for a great treatment of this issue. (Can be downloaded from Keep The Faith for $1.) I daresay that Mother Theresa did more to care for and help the poor than any number of government institutions combined.
The NEA controlled educucation establishment is hardly Catholic friendly and frequently openly hostile. Try and find a school textbook that paints Catholic history favorably or even balanced. How about vouchers for private schools?
While the Church may feel the Iraq War didn't meet the criteria for a Just War, they also recognize that to leave now would be a tragedy for the region. Furthermore the Democrats are not innocent when it comes to war making. We didn't exactly have a reason to be in the Balkans and we have arguably created a situation for potential chaos over there. Sen. Obama has also stated he would like to see more troops taken from Iraq and Afghanistan. Does the Church feel our presence there would be just?
The Democratic policies are more in line with Socialist Europe than they are with the Catholic Church. Yesterday there was an article in the Belgian newspaper stating that Europe is closer to recession than the U.S. They also reported that nearly 17% of women are barely above the poverty level. Abortion is a big problem and France is repealing its 35 hour work week as a failed experiment. Unemployment in Europe is still higher than the U.S. and the fact that many people here are in danger of losing their homes ignores the fact that the typical European lives in a far more modest home than in the U.S. We can blame the bankers and lenders but we must shoulder much of the blame ourselves for desiring homes with all the latest upgrades that are beyond our means.
There is an article written by Christoper Ferrara at the Remnant Newspaper that I would encourage you to read dealing with why it is a moral imperative to vote for McCain this election. He is no Republican apologist and I often disagree with him on other subjects but he makes a compelling case. http://www.remnantnewspaper.com/
I agree that the Republicans have a long way to go on other social issues but I believe that if the 47% of Catholics voting for Obama were join the 40+% voting for McCain that would be an overwhelming voice to generate a shift in the Party toward more Catholic belief on issues. Conversely that will never happen if all pro-life Catholics shifted to Obama. The radical element of the Democratic party is too strong. Anyway if you are interested you can read more at my blog.
Palin is a clear and present danger to anyone that values waiting until you're married to have sex and a baby. That's just what this country needs: another unmarried teenage mother. She's a disgrace to all that we stand for.
Nearstar,
Huh?
I can't believe how cahtolics go on and on about the issue of abortion and never say a word about war (an unjust war at that). Murder is murder, whatever color one tries to paint it.
I believe there is a marked difference between abortion which automatically incurs the penalty of excommunication and the act of war which does not. The Bishops have in fact stated that Catholics can have divergent views of the current war. That does not sound like a solid condemnation of those on either side of this issue. The Church does allow and in fact obligates one to use lethal force for self defense and in the defense of other helpess individuals. Jesus healed the Centurion's servant without rebuking him for his part as a leader of men trained for engaging in the art of war. God Himself annihilated entire populations like the city of the Sodomites. Apparently there is justification for the destruction of sinners on a large scale. The Catechism, the Bishops, and the Pope have clearly stated that abortion is always a grave sin. Most wars pale in comparision for the sheer number of noncombatants that have been killed in the name of reproductive rights.
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